Subject: Get Settled Faster With These Practical Tips
Moving to a new town can be a great adventure, if you go with the right attitude and a sound strategy for settling-in. Incorporate these tips into an action plan, and you'll stay focused, organized and proactive-just what's needed to put roots down fast.
Before You Go
· Order a telephone directory for your new town from your local phone company.
· Arrange for childcare. You may need to put your name on a waiting list.
· Subscribe to the local newspaper to learn about upcoming events.
· Get to know the new town street by street before you arrive. Contact the Visitor's Bureau for materials, which should include a map. Identify important routes, such as those between your home and your office or your child's school.
· If possible, enroll your children in school. Firm plans will reduce the stress.
Upon Arrival
· Have the locks changed. You never know who has a copy of the house key.
· Locate emergency services - police and fire stations and the closest hospital.
· Hang drapes or curtains to give you some privacy.
· Select one room, perhaps the den, to be a refuge. Make it a cozy space, free of unpacked boxes, empty cartons or anything else move-related.
· Stock the fridge with prepared entrees and the makings for no-fuss meals.
The First Week
· Check with the post office to see if they are holding mail for you.
· File away all documents related to the move. You'll need them for verification of moving expenses at tax time.
· Call the Department of Sanitation for a trash collection schedule.
· Open a bank account and arrange for a safe deposit box, if needed.
· Obtain a local driver's license and transfer the vehicle registration.
· Register to vote. Call the local Board of Elections for information.
Help Your Children Adjust
· Maintain family routines. Kids will appreciate the continuity of family life.
· Involve the kids. Allow them to select new furnishings or decorate their rooms.
· Take your children to the local playground. If you move during the summer, it's likely they'll make friends there, which should ease the transition to the new school.
· Try to be home when the children return from their first day at school. Kids feel reassured when a parent is there to hear about their day.
· Watch for signs of adjustment problems. These can manifest as trouble making friends, academic difficulties, and irritability or depression.
Get Involved in the Community
· Spend time outdoors. Neighbors may greet you and come by for sidewalk chats.
· Walk your dog in an area where you see other dog owners congregating.
· Schedule an after-work coffee or dessert hour. Invite neighbors to drop by.
· Choose a place to worship and get involved; consider doing volunteer work.
· Select professional service providers such as doctors, a dentist, a vet.
· Check the YMCA/YWCA for a Newcomers Club.
· Join a club or take up activities you enjoyed before the move.
· Take a job-related class to develop new professional contacts and update skills.
Contact your real estate professional for more ideas. By re-establishing daily patterns and developing ties soon after arrival, your new environment will begin to feel like home.
"Real Service in Real Estate." For a personal consultation on buying or selling real estate, Janis Peterson, GRI, CSP Realtor® can be reached at (610) 642-3744, e-mail: jp4re@pahomes.com. Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors® is an independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.
